FLORENCE, SC – Chad Bryant Racing’s Treyten Lapcevich put on a clinic Saturday night at Florence (S.C.) Motor Speedway, holding off a hungry pack of challengers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Doug Barnes Jr., to win the prestigious South Carolina 400.
The Canadian-born driver, who has dual Canadian-American citizenship and drives under the Allrem Racing program, made history by winning the race. The 250-lap event certainly brought headlines galore, but Lapcevich overcame a mid-pack starting position to rocket through the field and earn his young career’s most significant late model victory.
After winning his qualifying heat earlier in the evening, Lapcevich’s No. 77 Evirum/Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Chevrolet rolled from the 24th starting position and quickly went to work, driving through the field. By Lap 50, the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car Tour standout had climbed inside the top-15 and continued to post some of the quickest lap times on the track.
Less than 30 laps later, the Canadian had hustled inside the top-10 and quickly caught his competition for the top-five. By Lap 85, Lapcevich controlled third; on a restart at Lap 95, he muscled his No. 77 into the race lead.
Behind Lapcevich, Earnhardt Jr., who started last in the field, also showcased a car as quick as the No. 77 Chad Bryant Racing entry, but Lapcevich was able to keep the NASCAR icon behind him at the caution for the halfway break at Lap 125.
On the restart to begin the second half, Lapcevich quickly escaped the scene of any potential challenge for control of the race lead. Despite a couple of late-race restarts and a shift in challengers, as Earnhardt Jr. retired from the race with a fuel pump issue about 30 laps from the checkered flag, none of that mattered.
Barnes Jr., who inherited the runner-up spot, could not track down Lapcevich in race traffic, ensuring the 20-year-old’s impressive drive to make history and become the first international driver to win the South Carolina 400 in its 32 years of existence.
With his triumph, Lapcevich returned Chad Bryant Racing to victory lane at Florence Motor Speedway as winners of the South Carolina 400 for the third time, after 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion Ty Majeski captured the crown back-to-back in 2020 and 2021.
“It’s all thanks to the Chad Bryant Racing team,” said Lapcevich, in victory lane. “They brought me an awesome car. All weekend, I haven’t been too confident, honestly. Chad (Bryant) and the team kept me in this…huge thanks to EVIRUM and Bare Knuckles Fighting Championship. I honestly would not be here without their support. Huge thanks to my family.
“I’ve got a lot of people watching back home in Canada,” he continued. “So I appreciate the support. I appreciate Florence Motor Speedway for putting this awesome event on. I can’t believe it, honestly.”
After his triumphant NASCAR Canada Series title in 2023, Lapcevich shifted his focus to the CARS Tour and ventured into some marquee Late Model Stock events in the southeastern United States, showcasing his versatile skills. The path of his unique journey paid dividends on Saturday by adding his most prominent late model win to his resume.
“I’ve been pretty lucky with the opportunities I’ve been given,” said Lapcevich. “My parents started me out in this racing thing, this journey. There have been some highs and some lows, and we’ve had some people come on board and really push us to the next level.”
Based on how the weekend was going before the green flag dropped in the iconic event, Lapcevich wasn’t sure victory lane was possible.
“If you had told me this morning we’d end up in victory lane, I would have told you that you’re crazy,” added Lapcevich. “They believed in me; I believe in them. A whole lot of trust built there, and we were able to get it done.”
Lapcevich’s plans for the 2025 racing season will be announced in due course.
For more about Treyten Lapcevich, like him on Facebook (treyten.lapcevich) and follow him on Instagram (@treytenlapcevich) and X/Twitter (@TreytenL).
- By Allrem Racing
